Sports briefs

HESSTON — Hesston College signed two softball players for the upcoming season — pitcher Carolanne Whittaker and catcher-outfielder Leandra Daniels.

Whittaker played for Rouge River (Ore.) High School, where she was a three-year letterwinner and first-team all-conference pick as a senior. Her team won two consecutive Southern Cascade League titles.

"Carolanne is a nice addition for us," HC coach Andrew Sharp said. "She's a strong, durable pitcher who threw a lot of quality innings throughout her high school career. I expect her to compete in the circle right away this fall."

Whittaker intends to major in psychology at Hesston.

Daniels, of Johnson, played last season for Independence Community College, where she played in 15 games.

She was a four-year letterwinner at Stanton County High School, where she earned all-league honors.

"I'm thrilled that Leandra will be joining us this fall," Sharp said. "She brings experience to a young roster and I'm excited about her role with the program this year."

She was a member of the National Honor Society and a four-year honor roll selection at Stanton County.

She intends to major in pre-pharmacy.

Wingnuts game

suspended

WICHITA — The Wichita Wingnuts game against the Amarillo Sox was suspended after six innings because of rain, tied 4-4.

The game will resume at 6 p.m. today in the top of the seventh. The regularly scheduled game will follow. Tickets for Tuesday's game will be honored for both the suspended game and Wednesday's regularly scheduled game.

Wichita took a 4-1 lead as Ryan Khory drove in two runs. Amarillo tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run home run by Joe Weik.

Wichita starter Justin Klipp and Amarillo starter Jason Johnson were both in the game as the game was suspended.

Thunder earns

franchise awards

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Wichita Thunder earned five awards at the Central Hockey League Summer Conference, which recently ended in Phoenix.

Wichita was honored for game operations, communications executive of the year (Jason Mals), ticketing executive of the year (Luke Schuellein), leadership award (co-owner Rodney Steven) and most improved franchise.

The Missouri Mavericks were named franchise of the year.

KCAC names

top students

WICHITA — Madeline Chapin of Southwestern and Jacob Loucks of Ottawa have been named the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions of Character Female and Male Student-Athletes of the year.

Chapin is a junior from Andover on the soccer and cross country teams. She is a three-year starter on the soccer team and has played 55 games. Her team went the entire season without a caution or ejection and won the post-season tournament as the sixth seed.

Page 2 of 2 - She was All-KCAC in soccer and honorable mention in cross country.

Loucks is a junior pitcher for Ottawa. He has pitched in 45 games, starting 28. He has a 4.61 earned-run-average in 205 innings and batted .273. He was first-team All-KCAC as a sophomore.